Honest opinions wanted on HHR SS

[jonnycat]

We all know it's basically ugly. Any personal experience or thoughts on this car? The SS specifically. I need a new family wagon and I want a car not an SUV, I enjoy driving, I need cargo space, I won't always get free gas through work, (43mpg Canadian), 0% financing for up to 72 mos available.



Thanks.

[papatedroach]

Professional Opinion from Edmunds

My personal opinon Efficent and practical or not, I dont wanna see it in my driveway, and really dont wanna drive it.

My roomate had one of these as a rental in Houston. His opinion, slow, handles like crap, ugly as sin.

I would suggest to atleast take a look at a Scion XB its slightly less ugly (in person they really look interesting) and about the same price as the HHR. Gets the same EPA mpg, and handels better.

Edit:
Woops didnt realize there was an SS model, I only ever saw the basic one. So what I said is pretty much useless.

[B3NN3TT]

Ted - that;'s the SS, with the DI Turbo. Not anywhere NEAR a base HHR.

Regardless, I would probably get a PT Cruiser GT instead.

[michcougar]

They arent the nicest thing on the road. But my buddy has one and we always use it to pick stuff up instead of a pick up truck....

GAS.....so we made a trip to pick up a few things. Same trip both times.
Dakota R/T 5.9L V8 = 23$ worth of gas
HHR = 7$

[papatedroach]

Thansk I realized that like 5 min after I posted. I think manufactures are missing the point by turbo charging the cars that they do. I would not wanna drive a HHR and I think like a turbo HHR would be a disaster. I would think you woud roll it. At the same time who ever thought it would be a good idea to make a turbo Cailiber

Heres a nice "Family Car"

[ChenZhen]

The HHR handles like a car, which makes sense because it is on GM's delta platform along with the Cobalt and the G5. The thing that always struck me driving in the HHR was the visibility of all things.

Anyway, you might want to give it a try on the SS, if for no other reason than to check out the "no lift" shift on the manual. I personally haven't driven one (just 2.2 and 2.4 HHRs), but I think that the turbo'd 2.0 would be a lot of fun in that car. You won't know till you drive it.

[jonnycat]

As for handling, it lapped Nurburgring 3 seconds slower than a Honda S2000, not sure what year but also 3 secs behind a BMW M5 and 4 seconds behind an Acura NSX. Same time as a Lotus Exige Mk1, 7 seconds quicker than an R32, 9 seconds quicker than a Focus RS. On the skid pad it posted 0.86. So it will hold it's own in the handling dept.

I think the launch control would be neat for the first little while too.

On an unrelated note, Hey Chen it's been years.

[ChenZhen]

Originally Posted by jonnycat

On an unrelated note, Hey Chen it's been years.

Yea I'm back.

[KoochieCivic]

Not my style in looks, but def better than a PT cruiser, xB or caliber. The SS model sounds like it would be pretty damn fun to drive.

[DanoftheDead]

I personally hate the HHR. One of the ugliest cars on the road. The dodge nitro is a close second.